IN FASHION G O S SIP page 8
MARY MARTIN LONDON – THE RETURN COLLECTION On location at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Westminster, the energy is electric. The Grand Staircase is the perfect match for the grandeur of the latest Mary Martin London designs which form ‘The Return Collection’. Mary designed all the dresses herself as well as the headdresses. The founder of Blossom Concepts, Elisha Griffith, worked with Mary on the headdresses. Mary reveals that Ignatius Sancho provided her with great inspiration for The Return Collection. Born in 1729 on a slave ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Ignatius rose through talent and hard work to become a British composer, actor and writer. He is the only 18th century Briton of African heritage known to have been eligible to vote in a General Election through property qualifications. “Ignatius Sancho and his West Indian wife, Anne Osborne lived for a while in Westminster – near where the Foreign Office is now. I am so inspired by his talent and drive to succeed against the odds! The Return Collection is Marie Antoinette meets tribal, meets avant garde.” Now to meet the models: Yasmin Jamaal, Leila Samati, Kiki Busari and Hassan Reese, accompanied by ballerina Omozefe. Half Lebanese, half Sierra Leonean model Yasmin Jamaal stuns in a regal black and crimson gown. Leila Samati is an international model, she’s been crowned Miss World, Miss Africa Great Britain and
Miss Guinea-Bissau. The third female model on today’s shoot is Londoner Kiki Busari, this is her first time working with Mary. Fellow Londoner Hassan Reese is the male model. At 6 foot four inches he has been used as a body double for runner Usain Bolt. Ballerina Omozefe is practising her ballet moves while classical music reverberates off the marble Durbar Court. Before heading to the runway freelance stylist, Joel Kerroy adds the finishing touches to their looks. Memorable fashion moments are created Omozefe’s tippy toed croisé, plié and grand jeté. Yasmin working a dress of straw. Leila balancing a gargantuan Georgian wig on her head. Kiki taking a selfie with a Victorian bust. Hassan strutting his stuff.
